"Germanyrecognizes its responsibility. To support the work of liberatingMali, we will be providing financial, logistical and humanitarian assistance as well as equipment and expertise to trainMali’s army. In so doing, we are helping to ensure that the operation becomes more and more African in character. That will pave the way towards defeating the Islamist extremists inMali. While the military operation is right and proper, we do need to stay determined in seeking to launch a serious negotiation process as well. In the long term, the solution will have to be political."

Background information

At the donors conference inAddis Ababa,Germanypledged to provide support consisting of a range of short and long term measures.

Germanywill make a total of 20 million US$ available to the UN’sMalitrust fund for the African support mission AFISMA and the Malian armed forces. This includes equipment for the Malian army (lorries and a field hospital, flak jackets and metal detectors).

Below is a list of further measures which have already been completed, are currently being implemented or are at the detailed planning stage:

-Germanyis supporting AFISMA by transporting ECOWAS troops toMalion two Transall transport aircraft. This costs around 3 million US$ per month.

-Germanywill be making a substantial contribution to the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM) in the form of military personnel and equipment. The mission is due to start inMaliin February.

-Germanyis providingMaliwith extensive humanitarian relief. Around 21 millionUS$’ worth of aid has been supplied since December 2011.

-Germanyalso stands ready to pick up its development cooperation with the Malian Government where it left off after many years of extensive work, as soon as the security situation allows and the political conditions are in place. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has considerable funds available for this purpose.

-Germanyis supporting the political process inMaliof finding a peacefully negotiated solution for the north of the country. Some initial preparatory steps have already been taken, involving the provision of 800,000 US$ so far.

The EU has furthermore announced that it will supply 50 million euros to the trust fund forMali.

Peace and Security

Regional conflicts, fragile or collapsed states, armed conflicts, terrorism and organized crime – all have grave consequences for the people who suffer under them. They also threaten the security and stability of entire regions and peoples.